Framed multiple screw lock connector units



April 19, 1960 JACKSON, ETAL FRAMED MULTIPLE SCREW LOCK CONNECTOR UNITSFiled April 30, 1957 M093 3 3 2f z @T O 9 3 o 4 o z w K W5. 2, 6 A, m wHO We 8 5/ 2w INVENTORS fl/v TON fire/(SON BoR/s A. THC/(601V HTTORNEYUnited fltatesFatent 2,933,713 FRAMED MULTIPLE scnEW LOCK CONNECTORUNITS Anton Jackson, South Salem, and Boris A. Jackson, Manhasset, NY.

Application April 30, 1957, Serial No. 65%,120

3 Claims. (Cl. 339-92) This invention relates to electrical connectors.More particularly, the invention deals with a frame construction forunits of the character described, wherein a plurality of connectors canbe mounted with pairs of screw lock elements positioned centrally withrespect to end portions of the frames for coupling and uncoupling theframes in simultaneously coupling and uncoupling the electrical contactsof the connectors supported in the frames.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a multiple connectorunit of the character described, wherein each of the connectors arefreely supported in the frames and the screw lock coupling means forjoining a pair of the units have floating mounting to automaticallyaline the contacts of all of the connectors and, at the same time,prevent jamming in the coupling or uncoupling operation of the pair ofconnector units.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from thefollowing description, when taken together with the accompanying drawingin which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, inwhich,

the separate parts are designated by' suitable reference characters ineach of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a pair of connector units in spacedrelationship to each other, preparatory to a coupling engagement, partsof the construction being broken away and in section.

' Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the upper unit, as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is abottom plan view of the lower unit, as seen in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a broken enlarged section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a broken enlarged section substantially on the line5-5 of Fig.2; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged broken section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, showingonly the lower corner portion of the upper unit of Fig. 1.

Considering Fig. 1 of the drawing, we have shown a side view of theupper casing unit 10 and the lower unit 11 of a multiple framedconnector. The units 10 and 11 have substantially common connectormounting frames 12 and 13, respectively. 7

Considering now Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, it will appear that theframes 12 and 13 have three oblong rectangular openings or apertures 14and 15, respectively, in each of which are mounted pin and socketconnectors 16 and 17, respectively. A few of the contact pins of theconnectors 16 are diagrammatically indicated at 18; whereas,corresponding locations of the sockets in the contacts 17 arediagrammatically illustrated at 19. These pins and sockets have afloating mounting in the plastic or other insulated bodies of theconnectors 16 and 17 in accordance with known practices and, for thisreason, no detail showing of this mounting is disclosed in thisapplication.

-It will be noted from a consideration of Fig. 4 that the end walls ofthe connectors 16 and 17 have a slight clearance with respect to theadjacent end walls of the openings 2,333,713 Patented Apr. 19, 1960 ine14 and 15, this clearance of the connector 17 only being illustrated. Atthis time, it is pointed out that this clear-,

ance and others, later referred to, are not illustrated in Figs. 2 and3, as the clearances are all slight and would not show up clearly in thesmaller views.

The side walls of all of the connectors 16 and 17 have projectingflanges substantially centrally thereof and extending substantially thefull length of the side walls and, as the plastic body portion of theconnectors 16 and 17 are generally the same, the brief description ofone of the connectors with respect to these flanges is deemed to besuflicient and the flanges of connectors 17 are indicated at 20 in Fig.5.

Turning now to the frames 12 and 13, it will appear that these framesinclude wide end walls 21 on the frame 12 and corresponding end walls 22on the frame 13, the end walls being joined by narrow side walls 23 and24, respectively.

Adjacent surfaces of the frames of the units 10 and 11, as noted in Fig.1, include raised portions 25, 26, respectively, which are less in areathan the body portions of the frames and the end walls 21 and 22 of bothframes are joined by integral cross-bars 27. Two of the bars 27 of theframe 12 are shown in Fig. 2; whereas, the

corresponding bars of the frame 13 will assume the same position,keeping in mind that both frames are generally of the same construction.These bars, in conjunction with the side walls, divide each of theframes into the three oblong openings 14 and 15, respectively, forreception of the connectors 16 and 17.

Considering Fig. 5, it will appear that each of the crossbars 27 aregenerally T-shaped in cross-sectional form to provide shoulders, uponwhich the flanges 20 are adapted to rest, the shoulders of one of thebars 27 being indicated at 27', in Fig. 5. Secured to these bars and tothe end walls 21 and 22 are retainer strips 29 and 30. The retainerstrips 29 of the frame 13 are shown in plan in Fig. 3; whereas, asection through one of the strips 30 is indicated in Fig. 5, screws 31being employed to secure the strips 29 and 30 in position on thecross-bars 27.

It will be noted, from a consideration of Fig. 5, that the side walls 23and 24 have inwardly extending shoulder portions, the shoulder portionof one of the walls 23 being illustrated at 32 in Fig. 5, it beingunderstood that similar shoulders are on the walls 24. The shoulders 32are in alinement with the shoulders 27' and are engaged by the flanges20 in seating the connectors in the frames. Retainer strips 33 areemployed to engage the flanges on the side walls, similar to the strips29-and 30. Two of these strips are shown in Fig. 3. he strips 33 are notrequired on the frame 12 for reasons later pointed.

out. These strips 33 are keyed in position by key pins, one of which isseen at 34 in Fig. 3. These pins simply retain the strips againstdisplacement. The strips seat in the end walls 22.

It will be noted, from the enlarged showing of Fig. 5, that a definiteclearance is provided between the side movement is also provided in theclearance shown between the upper surfaces of the flanges 241i andthestrips 1 Mounted in corner portionsof each of the frames 12, 13 are pinand socket alinement members which have a fixed position in the endwalls of both of the frames and these alinement members serve to alinethe two connectors 10 and 11, preparatory to engagement of the P ns 18with the sockets 19.

c asm-s In Fig. 2, the pins of these alinernent members arediagrammatically illustrated at 35 and the sockets at 36, thecorresponding pins and sockets of the frame ill being indicated at 35and 36'. It will be noted, from a consideration of Fig. 1, that thesockets 36 of the frame 12 are in alinernent with the pins 35' of theframe 13, so that only one coupling engagement between the units 10 and11 is possible.

Centrally of the end walls of each of the frames 12 and 13 are male andfemale screw lock connectors for positively moving the units it? and 11toward and from each other in coupling and uncoupling said units. Thethreaded coupling pin of the frame 12, is shown at 3'7 and the socket at38; whereas, the pin of the frame is shown at 39 and the socket at 4 Thepins 37, 3? and sockets 38, 4 th, for the most part, are of the samegeneral construction, as will appear from a consideration of Figs. 4 and6. They each have a free mounting in shouldered sockets or apertures 41for the floating mounting therein and include portions 42 which seat inthe shoulders of the sockets, the pins having double lead threadedportions 43 to engage corresponding threaded sockets 44 of therespective socket members, the only real diiference being that the pinand sockets 35 and ll have protruding threaded ends 55, upon which aremounted nuts 46 to' On the other hand, it will be noted, from a consideration of Fig. 6, that the pin and sockets include long protruding rodportions d which extend upwardly through a box-shaped casing 52 and havefixed to the upper protruding ends thereof operating knobs 5d, the knobsbeing secured in position by set screws, as indicated at 51. This lattermounting in the casing 49 is also slightly free for vertical movement.The casing 49 is fixedly supported upon the upper ends of the male andfemale alinement pins and the sockets 35 and $6 in fixedly securing thecasing 49 to the frame 12, it being apparent that the end walls of thecasing have inturned flange portions 52, through which the rods 43 passand which would also receive the fastening means of the pins and sockets35 and 36. The latter coupling is not specifically shown, but it will beapparent to those skilled in the art.

The side walls of the casing have downwardly extending strip portions33', one of which is indicated in Fig. 1 and shown in section in Fig.-5. These strip portions take the'place of the strips 33 in retaining theside connectors of the frame in position. in other words, the portions33' are generally similar tothe strips 33 and can be held in position bythe key pins 34-.

The top Wall 53 has a central opening 54, through which wires connectedwith the terminal ends 18' of the pins 18 are adapted to pass and adouble clamp 55 is supported on the top wall 53 to retain these wires ingrouped relationship adjacent the casing 9. The clamp 55 comprises twosimilar clamp portions 56, 56', each having a quarter round section 57,57 terminating in a long straight end 53, 58 and a short straight end59, 59'. These ends are in registering alinement and are adapted to beclamped together by screws or other fasteners 6E). The long straightends 58, 58 are cutout and fashioned to form other inwardly extendingsubstantially quarter round sections 61, or. which, in combination withthe quarter round sections 57, 57, collectively will form asubstantially round clamping area within all of the sections, which willgrip and retain the wires in question in the desired position.

A few of the terminal ends of the socket portions 159 arediagrammatically indicated at 19' in Fig. 1. These terminal ends areadapted to receive the wires leading to the sockets in completing thecircuits through the wires connected with alined and intercoupledcontacts '18, 1?, respectively, as is well known in the art.

By providing the free or floating mounting of the screw lock male andfemale couplings of the two units 10 and 11 in conjunction with the freemounting of each of the male and female contacts 18 and 19, again, thefree mounting of the connectors 16 and 17 in the frames, 21 positivenon-jamming coupling and uncoupling engagement between the two units isassured, and this regardless of the extent of operation of one of theknobs 50 with respect to its companion knob in the operation of movingthe units toward and from each other. It will be understood that theframes 12 and 13 will directly talte up of the strains to which theunits are subjected and no stress or strain will be contributed to theseveral connectors 16 and 17 mounted in the units.

It will be noted that the frames 12 and 13 have, adjacent the cornerportions thereof and inwardly of the alinement pins and sockets 35, 3s;35', 36, apertures 62 which open through the surfaces of the frames, asviewed in 3, in substantially elliptical portions 62. These holes areprovided for mounting of the frames, particularly the frames 13 inconnection with suitable supports.

1; will be understood that suitable means, such as flat sides, notshown, on the pin and socket parts 3 and it), is provided to retainthese parts against rotation while the companion parts 37 and 33 arerotatable in the frafies through the medium of the operating knobs 50attached at the upper ends of the rods 48.

The arrangement of three connectors in each of the frames in theaccompanying drawing is simply by way of illustration, it beingunderstood that two or more connectors can be mounted in frames designedto receive these connectors. All of the connectors are madeinterchangeable the different sizes and by sizes is meant that theconnectors are made up with varied numbers of contacts. The diagrammaticand limited illustration in the accompanying drawing is for what isknown as a 50 Circuit connectoigin other words, connectors employingfifty contact pins-and fifty contact sockets.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1.- in electrical connectors of the character described, a pair ofsimilar rectangular hollow frames, each frame being defined by wide endand narrow ide walls, means extending integrally between end walls ofthe frame dividing the frame into oblong rectangular openings forreception of electric connectors employing a plurality of electrical,contacts, the walls of said openings paralleling the said end and sidewalls, said connectors having protruding side flanges seating onshoulders on said means and said side walls only in checking movement ofthe connectors in one direction in the openings of the frame, meansdetachable with the frames and overlying said flanges of the connectorsin retaining the connectors against displacement from the openings or".the frames, the size of the openings in the frames and mounting of saidconnector retaining means being such as to provide free floating of theconnectors in their individual openings, means adjacent corner portionsof end walls of the frames for positively alining the frames one withrespect to the other, and screw lock means in end walls of the framesfor coupling and uncoupling the frames.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the second named meanscomprises strip portions adjacent the side walls of the frame andintermediate said side walls.

3. A hollow frame for mounting of a plurality of electric connectors ofthe character described therein, said frame being generally rectangularin form and defined by wide end walls and narrow side walls, cross-barsintegrally joining, the end walls intermediate the side walls andequally spaced fromcach other and the side walls to define connectorreceiving openings of .ibstantially the same area, the end walls andopposed sides of the crossbars having shoulders forming seats forprotruding flanges of connectors mounted in said frame, said shouldersbeing adjacent one surface of the frame, the other surface of the framebeingrecessed to receive-retaining strips detachable with respect to theframe and overlying the flanges of said connectors in retaining theconnectors against displacement from the frame, and the size of saidopenings and mounting of the retaining strips in the frarne being suchas to provide free floating of the con- 5 nectors in their respectiveopenings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,966,542 Despard July 11, 1934 to 6 Petersen May 21, 1940 Jackson et a1Nov. 3, 1953 Jackson et a1 Aug. 28, 1956 Jencks Feb. 26, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS Germany Nov. 12, 1940

